Chapter 21 – Too Late……
A/N: Another gory chapter… promise me you won't eat when reading this!
"…. So, what is it you wish me to do, General…?" Caraway peered at the girl sitting cross-legged in front of him curiously, with an odd mixture of resentment and dread.
"That would be General AKU to you, President Caraway. Of course, outwardly your rank might be a tad higher than mine… but in the grand scale of Lord Redrumiel's plans, you are to listen to my every order, you understand?"
"But of course." Caraway answered smoothly and swiftly. Having dwelled for many years in the melting pot of deceit, bootlicking, backstabbing and "diplomatic bullshit" known as politics, and as a result earning his coveted position today, he was more than ready to curry the favor this young lady.
"If you were to become Lord Redrumiel's follower, he shall give you the promise of wealth, power, position, and anything else you might desire, as long as you do as he pleases. If all goes well… you might even become the ruler of humankind. Now isn't that a tempting notion?" It dangled the bait seductively in front of him, knowing that Caraway would find it hard to resist.
It could not have been more spot-on with its guess.
He bowed at her with a ninety-degree angle at the waist, and spoke in a subdued voice filled to the brim with the reverence reserved for the most devout followers of a cult.
"I am most willing to serve the Lord, if he will have me as his follower. Please convey my utmost respect and deference to the esteemed Lord, General AKU."
"Very well, you are now officially in charge of the SEI, also known as the Dimension of the humans. It was previously filled by a young SeeD, only to meet with a gruesome end for she had dared to betray the Lord… a lesson surely for all of us serving him.
For now, you are to carry on your responsibilities as a ruler of Galbadia… but very soon… the Lord shall hand more challenging tasks to you… the further his plans to rule the three dimensions develop, the more important your role will become."
"I understand." He bared his teeth in a forced smile, for behind the contrived benevolence he concealed an urge to gut the condescending General with his hidden weapon. But he knew it would only spell disaster for him, maybe even death.
With the corner of his eye, he stole a glance at his housekeeper. His left eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
He did not know if she had caught the implied reason behind the twitch.
But if she did, she neither showed her knowledge, nor did she care enough to indicate that she had.
"It appears that you have taken on your role with ease… which is highly commendable, since the Lord likes flexible persons… I have to warn you though… he does not exactly like those living in SEI, so watch yourself when you're around him."
"I have much to learn."
"You will catch on in due time. I have to leave now… and perform my last task before I hand the baton for SEI fully to you. It has been difficult for me… for I have had to transit seamlessly between two different places of great distance apart."
"Where are you heading for?"
"Galbadia Garden… to rid you of the greatest threat… the SeeD community……"
"WHAT?" He did not know how to react to the news… for it was news that affected him greatly.
"Welcome aboard, President Caraway… or should I say, Future Ruler of SEI…"
She grinned, and turned to leave… while a gaping Caraway could only stare after her without a single sound.
That grin… it was definitely malicious…
What have I done? I have fallen into their trap!
I have sent my daughter into the hands of a heartless slaughterer!
What can I do now to prevent it from happening… can I even stop it?
He feel to the ground with a slump… for his knees had weakened so much that they could not support his weight.
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"So, have we agreed on this?' Squall looked around at his committee of four, with three missing from the usual group.
"Aye, aye, Commander." Irvine answered, nodding his agreement.
"The thing is… how are we going to transport so many SeeDs there?" Zell scratched his head in contemplation of the problem.
"Use your brain, Zell! Have you forgotten that the Garden is mobile? Tee Hee!" Selphie chimed in, although her voice wasn't as shrill as usual… a little subdued from her hyper norm.
"So… you're saying that we should just move our Garden alongside Galbadia Garden, and sneak in from there?" The spiky-haired boy replied, and received a series of enthusiastic nods and yeah's in response.
"A plausible idea…" said Squall, rubbing his chin at the suggestion.
"Besides, it would be easier for those from Galbadian Garden to retreat if necessary…" Rinoa added, encircling her arm around Squall's muscular bicep to hug it close to her.
"It's settled then. I must make an announcement to our Garden and get them prepared… there isn't enough time!" Squall fretted over the impending battle he would have to throw at the SeeDs and Cadets at Balamb Garden, so soon after their loss of the Headmaster and his loving wife… it seemed almost unfeeling to him, and yet… he could not turn down the plea of help from Galbadia Garden!
Minutes later……
"Attention please. This is Squall speaking. I have bad news. Galbadia Garden is under attack from an unidentified enemy. The whole of Balamb Garden shall be assisting them in defeating their attackers.
We are to move to their current position, which is at coordinates L25R36 on the world map… approximately fifty kilometers from Timber. From there, we shall enter Galbadia through the front gates. Be cautioned… the enemy appears to possess great armies of an unknown hybrid of various monsters. Be on you guard.
In the event that a order of retreat is given, all are to return to Balamb Garden within ten minutes and await further instructions.
That's all… and good luck."
He switched off the mike.
"That was a bit too much information, I think." Nida turned to speak to Squall. He did not appear surprised at that Galbadia Garden had been attacked… or maybe he was trying to cover his nervousness up.
"Shut up, Nida. Watch the front when you 'drive'" Squall growled in a low voice.
In less than ten minutes, the red tip of Galbadia Garden could be spied protruding from a host of trees.
"Target sighted. We shall be reaching the destination in approximately two minutes."
"Good. Let's show them what we're made of…"
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As their Garden cruised towards its intended destination, Zell looked out in the distance, lost in thought.
Celestine… I'm ashamed of myself… at the time that you needed me the most I cannot rush to your side.
When this is over… I will find you no matter what… I will hold true to my promise…
However, his train of thought was interrupted by a sudden wave of forbidding….
His left eyebrow twitched uncontrollably, an omen that he usually thought to be unlucky.
What… why this weird feeling… as if something bad will happen?
Zell… Zell… Don't…
A small voice rang in his mind, warning him against something… he didn't know what.
The voice was too tiny for him to recognize its owner.
Before he could begin to mull over it, the Sky-Blue Garden had already parked alongside the Red one.
"Time to fight… let's go!" He yelled, leading his squad towards the gaping mouth of Galbadia Garden.
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They had gotten there too late… he knew it.
It would have been impossible not to realize that, for everywhere he looked, mutilated bodies of former residents of the Red Garden were strewn everywhere… some even had huge chunks ripped off by what looked like jagged fangs. The coppery scent of blood hung heavily in the air, until it seemed that even his clothes were stained by the smell.
If he had not been witness to three gruesome deaths in space of one week not so long ago, he was sure that he would have puked there and then, on the spot. A first for Squall Leonhart, for sure.
"Be on your guard… it appears our enemies are not only hybrids of monsters, they're man-eaters as well……"
"Yes Commander!" The squad he was leading answered as firmly as they can, even though many were green in the face at the sight and sheer number of bodies.
"Squall Leonhart. Rinoa Heartilly. Selphie Tilmitt. Irvine Kinneas… and last but not least, Zell Dintch. If you will be so kind as to proceed to the Auditorium, I shall explain to you what it is we desire from you… Leave your little squads behind, or else……" A familiar voice sounded from the Public Announcement system. There was no secret what would happen to those others not mentioned in her address to them if they were to violate her orders.
What? But I thought she's…
He did not get to finish his thought, for the sight of a blue-red figure zooming past distracted him enough.
"ZELL! You are not to go there alone!" He yelled after the figure.
Sure, he must be anxious to see her again… but she does not sound normal......
But Zell did not pay heed to his shout, for he was too deaf to other sounds.
She…she's not Celestine… Zell… don't……
Needless to say, that one did not even reach his ears.
Up the stairs he went, not stopping for a single breath.
Squall finally caught up with him at the entrance of the Auditorium, followed by the others.
In a curved line they stood in front of the podium, where the speaker stood smirking at them.
Damn… this feels just like the time Matron was possessed by Ultimecia and attacked us… but it cannot be!
Squall thought to himself, placing a hand on his forehead as a habit.
"Don't worry… I will not be possessing anyone else, for now… Commander Leonhart. Ah… I see your shocked expression. That's right, I can read your minds like an open book… the difference lies in whether or not I choose to do that."
"What have you done to Celestine?" Selphie could not hold in her question any longer, for no matter how she saw it, the girl in front definitely wasn't their friend. She was nothing like her!
"I'm sure you can guess…" For a brief instant, its eyes turned into a reptilian's, as a single, narrow strip of yellow replaced the dark pupils for a second.
"Why are you doing this? What do you want?"
"Nothing complicated. I simply desire your Garden to pledge allegiance with my Master, Lord Redrumiel. Very soon… he shall be the new leader of this world, and it would only benefit you to agree to my proposition. What do you say? I am sure, as mercenaries you would not pass up such a great offer."
"NEVER! After you have slaughtered so many of our comrades, you expect us to serve you and your accursed Lord? What do you take us for?"
"You do realize that resistance would be futile? Look at your 'comrades', as you have named them… and consider it carefully,
Of course, I am not expecting you to give an answer immediately. I will give you ten minutes… generous enough don't you think?"
She winked at Squall… an act that Celestine would never dream of doing.
"No matter how long a time you may give us, we will stand tall to our decision."
Her smiling face turned as swiftly as a litmus paper turns color in reaction to acidity.
"You will not heed my warning? Prepare thyself for a hurt you have never imagined before then!"
She was about to snap her fingers to summon creatures for attack when a blur pounced on her.
"Give her back! Give my Celestine back! I will not allow you to use her like this!"
He strangled her neck with a vice-like grip, but then, suddenly loosened it when he realized that it would hurt the physical body of the girl he loved as well.
Taking the chance to turn the tables on him, it snapped its fingers, a signal for the creatures to appear.
One of them pounced upon Zell, giving it a chance to slide away from his grasp.
The creature extended a huge claw, intending to shred Zell's torso as if it were a piece of paper.
He hadn't the time to react.
His friends could only watch in horror while blocking attacks from the other creatures… and barely surviving it too.
*Schhhhhweeeeepp!*
The slashing sound, followed by a shower of blood that fell upon the room.
A scream of pain pierced the air… the kind that made one's heart beat in an irregular fashion.
Can Zell survive the attack?
Will the five SeeDs really be killed?
Will Redrumiel achieve his plan?
When will Qusitis awake? (We are impatient!!!)
Next Chapter, we shall have the answers……